Kade Simpson of Carlton tackles Alex Neal-Bullen of the Demons during the round 22 match at the MCG.
Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

Carlton put an end to Melbourne’s late finals bid with a determined win at the MCG. The Demons needed a win to have any chance of snatching eighth spot from North Melbourne, but the Blues jumped to an early lead and were in front at every change to finish 11.12 (78) to 7.16 (58) in slippery conditions on Saturday.

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With so much to play for, Melbourne’s sluggish start was all too predictable for their fans, who haven’t seen their side contest a final since 2006. Carlton looked switched on from the moment Dylan Buckley kicked the opening goal then bowled over the nearest Melbourne player, while the Demons looked hesitant and perhaps overawed by the opportunity in their grasp.

Buckley was the leading goal-kicker with three, while Bryce Gibbs and Patrick Cripps got the ball moving Carlton’s way early, and the pair finished with 33 and 30 possessions, respectively. Sam Docherty and Kade Simpson marshalled the troops superbly in the back half, although the Demons didn’t help their cause with some poor kicking for goal.

The Blues, who had lost their previous nine games, turned an 18-point half-time lead into a 24-point advantage at the last change before holding off a Melbourne challenge that was too little, too late.

The Demons had too many passengers on a disappointing day, but Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones and Jack Viney worked hard. The Blues played without Sam Kerridge (illness) and Jack Silvagni (sore), who were replaced by Nick Graham and Andrejs Everitt.

Patrick Dangerfield, with 28 disposals, put in a sterling shift for the Cats in their win over Brisbane. Photograph: Dan Peled/AAP

Geelong’s hopes of a home final are in the balance despite a 60-point win over the Brisbane Lions. In stress-free finals tune-up, the Cats faced some resistance from their lowly opponents but were largely untroubled in the 19.15 (129) to 10.9 (69) win at the Gabba, their sixth in a row.

But they may live to regret their failure to truly put away the Lions, with some inaccurate goalkicking and a lack of intensity squandering a golden chance to further boost their percentage.

The Cats are now into third spot on the ladder – equal on points with Sydney, Hawthorn and Adelaide heading into what looms as a thrilling final round. They will host Melbourne at Simonds Stadium on Saturday afternoon, needing to win as big as possible to have any chance of leapfrogging the Swans or Crows into the top two.

Patrick Dangerfield (28 disposals) was terrific but Sam Mengola, in just his fifth game for Geelong, looks set to give coach Chris Scott a September selection headache after grabbing 33 disposals and eight clearances. Shannon Motlop was also lively with a career-best five-goal haul.

A bloodbath looked on the cards after a lopsided first term, with Dangerfield and Motlop both kicking two goals apiece as Geelong established a 36-point lead at quarter-time. The Lions outscored the Cats by six goals to two in the next quarter, chopping the margin to 19 points, but simply didn’t have the ability or the energy to go for much longer.

It was a disappointing way to mark veteran defender Daniel Merrett’s home game, as well as midfielder Dayne Zorko’s 100th AFL game, played in front of 20,477 fans. Skipper Tom Rockliff (27 touches), Daniel Rich (24 touches, two goals) and rookie Rhys Mathieson (nine clearances) were among Brisbane’s best.

Jason Johannisen is tackled by Adam Cooney, who celebrated his 250th game with a second-quarter goal and was applauded by the entire crowd. Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Western Bulldogs’ luckless season continued on Sunday, when stand-in skipper Easton Wood hurt his leg in a 40-point win over Essendon. Wood grimaced with pain after flying for a loose ball and landing on his left leg, prompting worried team-mates to call for assistance during the third term at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

He limped off with the help of trainers and failed to emerge from the rooms at three-quarter-time. The 26-year-old finished the game on crutches and with ice strapped to his ankle, becoming the latest injury concern for coach Luke Beveridge ahead of finals.

Beveridge flashed a look of disbelief following the incident and comforted players on the bench at three-quarter time but his side re-focused to triumph 14.9 (93) to 7.11 (53).

The Bulldogs opened up a 30-point lead at quarter-time and were never headed, thanks largely to midfielders Liam Picken, Lachie Hunter, Lin Jong, Marcus Bontempelli and Jason Johannisen.

Some praise-worthy pressure and persistence from the Bombers ensured the margin never blew out. Young forward Joe Daniher clutched a couple of screamers but finished with 2.3 as Essendon cursed their inaccurate goal-kicking for the umpteenth time this season.

Essendon midfielder Adam Cooney, who announced his retirement earlier this week, celebrated his 250th game with a second-quarter goal and was applauded by the entire crowd. Cooney was chaired off the field and given a guard of honour by the two clubs he represented.

Wood was leading the Bulldogs in the absence of injured veteran Bob Murphy, one of many high-profile players at the club to suffer a serious injury this season. Murphy, Dale Morris, Matt Suckling and Marcus Adams all missed the clash with Essendon because of injuries, stretching the Bulldogs’ inexperienced defence.

Beveridge also opted for a rejigged forward line, dropping star Jake Stringer after a couple of quiet games. Tory Dickson booted three goals and Tom Boyd clutched a couple of strong marks but neither forward was able to bust the game wide open for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs banked their 15th win of the season but remain in a tight race to host a final. The seventh-placed Bulldogs will only clamber up the ladder if they defeat Fremantle in the final game of the regular season – and one of West Coast, Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn lose. The Bulldogs must also bridge a small percentage gap if they’re to rise above the Hawks.